Railway-crossing alarm



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J.A.B.LOVETT.

RAIL WAY CROSSING ALARM.

Patented F WITNESSES:

6m ym (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. B. LOVETT. RAILWAY (mossme ALARM.

No. 272,123. Patented Peb.20, 1883. I

N. PETERS Plwmmlw m lm. Wzihinglon. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. B. LOVETT, OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

RAILWAY-CROSSING ALARM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 272,723, dated February 20, 18 83.

Application filed September 1, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. B. Lovnrcr, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at Hunts,

ville, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Crossing Alarms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in signals for railroad stations and crossings; and it consists in the employment of a spring-rod connected to the steam-whistle of an engine or locomotive and to a jointed rod articulated or pivoted to a lever carrying a wheel or shoe adapted to ride upon a cam or elevation arranged alongside of the track-rails. Said spring-rod is adapted to be connected to a piston adapted to operate in an air-chamber,substantiallyas hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a portion of a locomotive embodying my improvement. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the track and the cam or elevation upon which rides the shoe or wheel of the whistle-operatingrod. FigAisaside-andpartly sectional view of my improvement. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view thereofwith the whistleoperating rod operating in connection with a spring-bolt, under the control of the engineer, to'prolong the sounding of the whistle. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed Sectional view of the air whistle or chamber, partly broken away, employed when the spring-bolt engaging with whistle-operating rod is not used. Fig. 7 is a similar view, partly in side elevation, of the spring-bolt engaging with the whistle-operating rod, shown broken away.

In carrying out my invention I employ, in combination with the steam-whistle of an engine or locomotive, a spring-rod, A, passing brace-bar a.

(No model.)

connected bya walking-beam or centrally-pivoted lever,0,to the piston-rod D. The lever O is pivoted to a pendant,f, affixed to the bracebar a of the engine. The upper end of the rod D, jointed where it connects with thelever U, is connected to a piston, E, moving in an airchamber or cylinder, F, affixed also to. the

A horizontal partition, F, having a ball or globe valve, 9, is arranged within the air cylinder or chamber F, near its upper end, said valve being designed to allow the air to escape as it is compressed by the ascent of the piston, caused by the wheel or shoe G at the lower end of the rod D riding upon the cam or elevation H, secured to the ties alongside one of the track-rails. After passing the cam H, the valve I admits air slowly to the cylinder, and thereby gradually permits the return of wheel G to its normal position, cans ing the steam-whistle to sound during the said return. The lower end of the piston-rod D is also connected to a lever, J, pivoted to the lower end of a rod, J, also secured to the under side ot'the brace-bar a,- or it maybe formed in one piece with the upper horizontal part,

with the pendant or bracket of the lever 0,,

and by means of which the air-chamberis supported in position upon the brace-bar.

A chain, K, connected to the short arm of the lever J and to the under side of the bracket-casting, connecting the several parts integrally to the brace-bar a, is designed to keep the wheel or shoe of the piston-rod lever J sufficiently elevated to prevent it striking obstructions or the rail-ties.

In lieu of or in combination with the airchamber aforesaid may be used an incased spring-bolt, L, arranged upon the brace-bar a of the engine, and adapted to engage teeth h on'the stealn-whistle-operatin grod A, said bolt being controlled by the engineer by means of a cord or wire, 2', connected to a lever, M, connected to the said bolt and pivoted to the bottom of its case, said rod or wire reachinginto the engine-cab.

It is obvious that as the whistle-operating rod A is drawn down by ascent of the wheel or shoe G upon its cam, causing the blowing of the whistle, the bolt L will spring into the coincident notch between two of the teeth h of a Wheel or shoe operated by a cam or eleva tion arranged alongside one ot the track-rails, of an air-chamber having two valves and a piston for prolonging the signahsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a railroad crossing or station signal the combination, with the steam-whistle-operating spring-rod connected to a piston-rod, the latter being connected to alever carrying awheel or shoe operated by a cam or elevation arranged alongside one of the track'rails,

wot the air chamber or cylinder provided with air-valves, and having a piston @to \lllUll said rod is affixed, substantially as and for the purpose srt forth.

In testimony whereot'lhaveafiixed mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES A. B. LOVETT.

Witnesses: V

JNO. D. BRANDON, WM. (3. WEAVER. 

